Hey everyone! Thank you so much for reading and reviewing. In case you're reading my other WIP, Grey's Amendments (I swear that wasn't a shameless plug haha), the new chapter of that should be posted sometime this week. Thank you once again for reading, and please review! Enjoy!


"I hate him."

"Tell me how you really feel."

The next morning, April and Alex were in the kitchens, bright and early. Alex was preparing breakfasts for their guests, and April helped where she could- though Alex had a tendency to be quite possessive over his kitchen. On the rare occasion that Alex needed a sous chef, April would step in, as she was not too shabby in the kitchen herself, even if she wasn't quite on Alex's level. For now, April was perched on a stool, ranting at Alex as he finished up the first batch of mascarpone-stuffed french toast with blueberries.

"I'm serious, Alex. I hate him."

Alex sighed, still not looking up from his intense concentration. Karev could be a lot of things, April thought, but one thing you could never call him was careless about his work. "I believe you, and good for you Kepner. I think this is the first time you've hated someone. It's good. It's human. You're finally not acting like a pod person."

Barely hearing him as her thoughts were still so focused on Jackson, April huffed angrily and tossed her hair. "He shouldn't be so charming if he's some corporate yuppy who steamrolls over small businesses. I think that if you're going to be a jerk, you should be a jerk from the very start, not try and pretend to be nice, or funny, or…" A few more adjectives float around April's mind- sweet, intriguing, the most handsome man she'd ever seen…

When April doesn't continue, Alex finally looked up to find the innkeeper staring off absentmindedly. Smirking, Alex examined her from head to toe. "Or what?"

"Or- or nothing." Blushing, April stood and rubbed her hands on her pants, before she began to pace across the kitchen, full of restless, nervous energy. The kitchen had become one of their favorite gathering spots, because it was away from guests and it allowed the staff to vent freely without fear of being overhead, and the early morning was usually her favorite time of day. She loved the sunrise, and the cool, crisp feeling of dawn, when the dew was still on the grass and everything was still and quiet. It was the calm before the storm. This morning, however, after a sleepless night worrying and wondering about Jackson Avery's intentions, it seemed like the storm came early.

"The Averys are looking to buy us out, tear down Seaside, and build a new hotel. I mean, that's gotta be it, right?"

Alex shrugged and nodded his head, back to focusing on his food. "Probably."

"Well, what are we going to do about it?" April whirled around, hair trailing after her like a flame.

"They're probably going to offer a good amount of money." Alex gestured with his spoon, pausing for a brief moment in the process of mixing the mascarpone cream, before he continues, his motions so quick it's a blur. "The Averys- I mean, they have more money than God. Maybe this is something we all should think about." While ultimately it was Arizona's decision about how best to deal with this, both Alex and April knew their input would be part of the decision, and Alex for one was still paying off some of his bills from culinary school. Plus, he still had to send money back to his family in Iowa.

"Alex, this is our home. We're never going to find as good of jobs as the ones we have here." April said fervently as she sat down on her stool again, believing every word. Seaside and Cedar Creek were where she had found her first true friends, this is where she had started working and finally found her confidence. She had never really felt like she fit in until she started living and working in Cedar Creek. She had put so much of herself- her blood, sweat, and tears- into making Seaside as successful as it could be. She couldn't stand the thought of all of that being for nothing. Thinking quickly, April considered her argument. "Alex, this is where Meredith and Cristina and Owen and Mayor Shepherd are, and Arizona's a great boss. She supports us, but she still gives us our freedom to manage Seaside, this is-"

Alex let out a frustrated groan. While at first he couldn't stand her- and actually, she still got on his nerves 95% of the time- perky April Kepner had somehow become a friend, and right now, she had a point. Arizona Robbins had given him a second chance when few people would have. He'd been deemed too erratic, too volatile for some kitchens. Here, he had friends; here, he had a steady job that paid well. But Alex would be damned before he'd admit any of that to Kepner. "Freakin' hell, I get it, Seaside is heaven on earth, yada yada yada, we can never sell."

Satisfied with his answer, April sat back on her stool, hooking her angles around one of the lower a sip of her tea that she had previously abandoned in the midst of her rant, April sat contemplating the possibilities. "OK, seriously though, what should we do? We need a gameplan."

"Hmm. Well, there's one option. You could seduce him, convince him not to take over out here." Alex chortled at the thought.

April choked on her tea and began to cough furiously. "Alex! I'm not going to seduce him!" she finally protested once she got her breath back. She was incredibly flustered and her voice was hoarse from the hot tea.

Alex scoffed, before he started to laugh. "All I'm saying is, I'm sure as hell not going to, and Arizona doesn't swing that way. So I guess you gotta be the one to take one for the team."

April promptly slapped Alex on his arm.

"Ow!"

"I'm not taking one for the team!" April insisted while wrinkling her nose delicately. "Nobody is seducing anybody. He's- he's the enemy."

Alex finally nodded. "Okay, Kepner. Whatever you say." He turned back to the french toast.

While Alex seemed to accept her answer, April wished she felt a lot more sure. She had met Jackson so briefly the day before, but there'd been this inexplicable feeling of… connection, and for some reason, calling him an enemy tasted like a lie in her mouth.


After watching Alex prepare breakfast a bit longer, April began to head out to the main area. It was still early enough that most of the guests would probably still be sleeping, and so she let her mind wander. The Murphy family had arranged to go fishing later that day, and April had already prepared everything for their excursion. The Carlsons' were planning to explore town and main street, and while April had offered up recommendations, she didn't have to worry about them too much… Her mind flitted from guest to guest as she walked into the dining room, but she stopped when she saw a figure.

"Ah!" April gasped in surprise, her hand flying up to her chest. Jackson was sitting at the dining room table, already dressed in a suit and phone at hand. Guests didn't usually start coming down for breakfast until 7:30, and it wasn't even seven yet.

Taking a breath, April sighed heavily. "You scared me half-to-death."

Jackson grinned and pocketed his phone. "Good morning. Sorry about that. I was just enjoying the- your dining room- it's nice. It's a good room." Wincing slightly, Jackson wished he could stop talking.

"I figured you'd still be in bed," April scowled, but it wasn't very intimidating, Jackson thought. She was so cute, it was more like a kitten trying to growl or something. Dammit, she was pissed. Even though he had been afraid she would react like this, part of him had hoped she wouldn't. "I didn't think Hiltons or Averys got up before noon," she muttered under her breath.

"I'll have you know I have always been an early riser, ever since I was a kid." A doubtful look remained on April's face as she considered him. "Well, I'm still on Boston time," he explained sheepishly. He had gone to sleep much earlier than he usually did, because what felt like midnight to him was actually 9 pm on the west coast. Admittedly, he usually wasn't an early riser; quite the opposite, in fact. But it turns one of the benefits of waking up so early? Encountering Seaside's innkeeper. "I'm not sure about Paris though. She may sleep in," he joked, and finally a smile broke through her hard exterior.

"I actually have a meeting with Derek Shepherd this morning, do you think you could help me find the mayor's office?"

April bit her lip nervously. "You're- you're meeting Mayor Shepherd? Already?"

Jackson nodded. She looked so worried that for a moment he felt a flare of guilt, before he quickly pushed it aside. It was just business, and Seaside Bed and Breakfast, for all of its charm, was only an inn. From what he had seen, she was a competent innkeeper; she could get another job somewhere else very easily, or she could start work at the Avery Hotel he was planning to develop here.

While part of April wanted to tell him he could go find the Mayor's office on his own, she reminded herself that for however long he was staying at Seaside, he was a guest, and it was her job to help guests however she could.

"Sure," she finally said, a small smile on her face. "I can help you get to Mayor Shepherd's office."


Jackson didn't know what he was more surprised by, the baby or Derek Shepherd's resistance to his pitch. Usually, he would say the baby; after all, he had never had a business meeting feature a teething toddler like this. Derek Shepherd, Mayor of Cedar Creek, Washington, smiled and held up a pacifier to his daughter's mouth, who babbled excitedly before taking the pacifier and settling down. They were sitting in the Mayor's office, and Jackson had been in the middle of an extensive pitch detailing the specifics of his plan for an Avery Hotel in Cedar Creek. Having the support of the local government helped immensely with zoning issues; before the Averys looked further into developing a new hotel or resort, they liked to meet with the mayor or city comptroller before moving further in the process. A gesture of respect like that went a long way.

Shepherd smiled and waved his free hand at Jackson. "I'm sorry, please continue."

Jackson cleared his throat. "As I was saying, this would create a lot of jobs in the area. We'd probably bring in some internal employees already working for Avery Hotels, but there are countless positions available. And that's just for the hotel itself. Your wife runs the bookstore on Main Street, correct? Grey's Bookstore?"

If Derek was offended at Jackson bringing up his wife in a business discussion, he didn't let it show. "Yes, she does."

"If there were an Avery Hotel in Cedar Creek, it would increase revenue exponentially for virtually every small business in your town, including your wife's bookstore." Jackson continued as Shepherd's daughter, Zola, cooed in his arms.

Derek nodded his head and looked back down at the numbers, brow furrowed in concentration. "Well, I have to admit, you are a very convincing salesman, Mr. Avery…" He looked up at Jackson and smiled. "Can I be frank with you?"

Jackson grinned. "I appreciate straight-shooters."

"Great, then I'll break it down for you, Mr. Avery. Alex Karev, Seaside's chef?" Shepherd waited as Jackson inclined his head in acknowledgement. "He's the closest thing my wife has to a brother. Arizona Robbins? She's one of Sofia's mothers. Both she and Sofia's other mother, Callie, are very close friends to me and my wife. I'm Sofia's godfather. Sofia's father is my best friend, and his girlfriend is my wife's sister."

Jackson struggled to keep up with the myriad of connections Shepherd was listing. "This is a really small town. I mean, really small- absurdly small."

The older man chuckled, running his hand through his dark hair. "Tell me about it."

Jackson wonders what all these relationships have to do with a business deal, but he's curious about a name not mentioned. "And what about April Kepner, is it? She's the day-to-day innkeeper, right?" Jackson asks in an attempt at nonchalance, as if he's not already aware of her.

But from the way Shepherd's lips quirk, Jackson did not quite pull it off. "You mean the April Kepner waiting for you in our reception area?" Shepherd smiled. "Yes, April Kepner is also a friend of ours. We're a pretty tight-knit community, you have to understand. While I can appreciate the financial benefits, there's many other factors involved. What I will tell you is that I will absolutely consider your proposal, though I can't make any promises yet."

Jackson grinned and raised his hands in supplication, refusing to show any signs of dismay. "That's all I ask, is that you consider it." Over the years, Jackson had discovered that business often required a delicate touch; if you pushed too hard, an entire deal could collapse in on itself. "I'm going to be in town for a while, so we have time to discuss the particulars. I'm sure once we have a chance to discuss this further, you'll be able to see the wide array of benefits that comes along with having an Avery Hotel in Cedar Creek."

They shook hands once more and Jackson left the office. As Derek watched the younger man leave, he heard someone delicately clear their throat behind him. He turned to see Meredith appear in the other doorway, leaning against the frame. "Was that the guy who wants to take over Seaside?"

Derek chuckled and gently put Zola in her playpen that clashed spectacularly with the dignified nature of his office. He reached out a hand to his wife and sat down, before pulling her onto his lap and placing a hand on her pregnant belly.

"You were eavesdropping? Why am I not surprised?"

Meredith pursed her lips and casually studied her fingernails. "No, Alex called me, and said that April was bringing some corporate guy to meet you." Of course. Meredith, Alex, and her best friend Cristina had been as thick as thieves for an incredibly long time.

"What are you going to do, Derek? Alex is my family. Arizona, April- they're my friends. Seaside is their livelihood, but it's more than that. That's where we had our first Christmas with Zola. You're not actually going to agree to letting that Avery guy take it over, are you?"

Derek sighed. This is what he loves most about his wife, and what also simultaneously drives him crazy. She would do anything for the people she loves- go to any lengths.

"I have to consider it, at the very least. As Mayor, I have to think about what's best for everyone, not just our friends."

"Hmpf." Meredith grunted lightly before leaning her head on Derek's shoulder.


Jackson and April left the mayor's office in silence as a cool breeze wafted across Main Street. It was a sunny day in Cedar Creek, with nary a cloud in the sky. Most people would want to take advantage of the nice weather, but Jackson had another idea in mind.

"Listen, thank you for showing me how to find City Hall. Can I buy you lunch? As a gesture of appreciation?" Jackson rubbed the back of his head awkwardly.

April sighed heavily and turned to face him. "I would say yes, but I need to know what your intentions are for Seaside." April crossed her arms and stared up at Jackson.

He looked away, not making eye contact with her. "That's really something Ms. Robbins and I need to discuss. There's a lot of factors involved-"

"Jackson, just tell me!" April interrupted, growing frustrated.

He stared at her for a long moment. Sighing, Jackson nodded his head. "Yes, we're looking into buying Seaside and developing a new hotel."

Hearing confirmation of her suspicions, April could only look down at the ground. Biting her lip, she felt a moment of fear- what would that mean for her, for Arizona, for Alex? All the staff at Seaside? But then she thought of something her friend Owen had told her. As Cedar Creek's Chief of Police, he had told her of a mantra he had thought of while undergoing police training: 'I'm a fighter.' April had adopted that mantra for herself, saying it whenever she got discouraged at work. She was a fighter, and April was going to fight for Seaside.

"You know what? I am going to prove to you that Seaside is profitable, and more importantly, I'm going to show you just how much Seaside means to this town." With a self-assured nod, April grinned at Jackson and turned to head down the car. "Just you wait."

Maybe Jackson should've been worried. Maybe he should've been concerned that this business deal, the one that was going to prove to his family he wasn't just a pretty face, might be going downhill. But watching April Kepner stride down the sidewalk, all he felt was excitement.